Shaping the reality of temporary supply network for humanitarian relief through social media: A quasi-natural field experiment on the socio-technical system

Coordinating temporary supply networks (TSNs) presents significant challenges due to the heterogeneity of participant backgrounds, objectives, and values. This study investigates whether TSNs can function effectively as socio-technical systems to facilitate coordination and enhance performance. Leveraging a quasi-natural field experiment during the initial outbreak of COVID-19, this study employs ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analysis based on data from 225 relief actors participating in TSNs for humanitarian relief. It investigates how TSNs operate as socio-technical systems, emphasizing the cornerstone role of the technical subsystem. The results reveal a serial mediating effect: social media use improves delivery performance by fostering relief actors’ affective commitment and subsequent coordination practices. Moreover, the affordance of searchability provided by social media platforms positively moderates the relationship between affective commitment and coordination practices. This study enriches the TSN management literature by advancing a socio-technical system perspective and extends this framework by underscoring the pivotal role of the technical subsystem in an era of digital transformation. In addition, this study offers practical insights by emphasizing the critical role of digital technologies in TSNs for humanitarian relief and encouraging the strategic mobilization of social resources to strengthen coordination capabilities.